January 2018 


Moyers Apple Products, based out of Beamsville in the Niagara Region, and Dr. Keith Warriner, a food scientist from the University of Guelph, were presented with a Leaders in Innovation Award at the latest annual Summit on Agri-Food in Toronto for their innovative work and proactive approach to advancing food safety. 

The collaboration resulted in a breakthrough development of a chemical-free, waterless sanitizer for produce, which reduces health risks and increases shelf life by up to 25 per cent!  Learn more about  this  exciting agri-food innovation on our blog.

Toward the end of last year, Flanagan Foodservice and Local Line received a Local Food Champion Award from the Greenbelt Fund for creating an online platform that connects local growers with restaurants and other food service operations, increasing local food options readily available to buyers: an online farmers' market, if you will. 

Flanagan tells us the digital market now has more than 350 users signed up on the platform, with over 850 products listed. Read more about this clever partnership and how it's increased local food distribution in Ontario on our blog.

Earlier this month, Durham Region's Agriculture and Rural Affairs Economic Development Division announced the launch of a Local Food Business Retention and Expansion project for the region, aimed at supporting local business development and job creation in the agri-food sector.  Read more .

Looking to bring a food or beverage product to market? 

You might be interested in the upcoming  Bon Appetit Food Business Conference in Cobourg on February 8-9, hosted by Northumberland County and the Agri-Food Management Institute (AMI).

This year's conference includes sessions in three different streams: Beverage Makers, Value-added Agriculture, and Ready to Eat Processors.

Early bird prices are in effect until January 28, 2018. Learn more and grab your tickets online here.
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Increasing choice, micro-markets for food, the rise of alternate proteins, and food prices are just a few of the key issues and trends that The Conversation has highlighted in a recent article.

With the rise of the conscious and engaged consumer, it's both an exciting and pertinent time to stay in tune with these trends.  You can read The Conversation article in full here .

Hungry for more information on food trends? Check out Nourish's latest Food Trend Report, which offers an overview of recent "macro forces" they've observed.

For instance, "Consumers are looking for food with a function," the report states, "specifically tied to the benefits certain products (such as ancient grains and fermented foods) can provide to their overall digestive health. 

Check out the full report here.

With a Food Policy for Canada in development, and public consultations completed last year, we thought we'd share with you a   TedTalk from Diana Bronson, Executive Director of Food Secure Canada.  Although the video is now a few years old, it's as timely as ever as we explore what a national food policy means for the country.

Last month, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food released its first report on the National Food Policy.

"A Food Policy for Canada," the Federal Government states, "will set a long-term vision for the country's health, environment, social, and economic goals related to food; while also identifying actions that can be taken in the short-term to improve Canada's food system."  Learn more on the Government of Canada's website .
Contact:
Janet Horner, Executive Director,
Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance
janet@whitfieldfarms.com
www.foodandfarming.ca